MaeLyn's Musings

The side of the house; notice the branches in the street.  After a mild winter last year and a warm summer, I was not ready for the snow that weather forecasters were predicting. I didn't want snow. I didn't want to have to drive in it. I didn't want to have to shovel it, slip and slide in it, or have anything to do with it. I really didn't. So when I awoke Wednesday morning to a blanket of thick white snow, with more still falling, I wasn't excited. The snow fell most of the morning. At one point I heard a loud crash, and I didn't know what it was at first, but when my visiting teacher came to visit she told me that a branch from our neighbor's tree had fallen into the street. A lot of leaf covered branches fell from the weight of the heavy snow. A few people I know had their power out for extended periods of time, and without heat, they had to find other places to go. Luckily, that didn't include us. The front of the house around noon yesterd...

Yesterday our ward had our Primary presentation in Sacrament Meeting. This presentation is an annual thing; usually it happens in October. It is an opportunity for the children to share the songs and teachings that they have learned over the course of the year. Through the years, I have participated in this program in many ways. As a child, I sang the songs, I got to speak in the microphone to give my one line parts. I don't remember ever worrying too much about it. As an adult, I have played the piano for it. I have been a teacher, helping to direct the children up to the stand when it was their turn to speak. I have been the chorister, leading the music, and hoping that the children would sing loudly enough and clearly enough to be understood.  Two years ago I led the music, felt the Spirit strongly, and cried because I knew that my term as chorister was coming to an end. I had been called to be the Primary President in our ward. Yesterday marked my second primary program as ...

If I were a perfect mom , I would always remember to teach and remind my children to... say their morning and evening prayers, brush their teeth after every meal, floss every day, wash their hands when they come inside, after using the bathroom, and before meals, wear their helmets every time they ride a bike, do their homework, clean up after themselves, do their chores, clear their places from the table, say please, say thank you, send thank you cards, wear sunscreen, change their socks and underwear, read their scriptures, be kind to each other, obey their parents, help without being asked, open doors for other people, make their beds, clean their rooms, practice a musical instrument, practice their addition and subtraction facts and times tables, of fruits and vegetables, dress appropriately for the weather, chew their food thoroughly before swallowing, wear their seat belts, get plenty of exercise, drink their milk, get plenty of sleep, cover their mouths when they ...